For kids suffering from attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD),
daily aerobic exercises before school can help reduce symptoms of inattentiveness,
moodiness and difficulty in getting along with others in the classroom as well as at home.
Source: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.
WHAT IS DANDRUFF?
Dandruff is a condition of the scalp that causes flakes of skin to appear. Dandruff is a common condition, which is marked by flaking and itching.
Dry Scalp is not Dandruff. Some people think their dandruff is caused by their scalp being too dry. They try to deal with this by not washing their hair with shampoo, or wash it less often, believing that washing worsens the problem. This is a myth.
SOME STATS
It is estimated that about 50% of people in Western Europe and North America suffer from dandruff.
Dandruff is more common in men than in women, and in people with oily skin.
People with dry skin tend to get dandruff more often.
CAUSES
People who do not comb or brush their hair regularly have a slightly higher risk of having dandruff – this is because they are not aiding the shedding of skin that combing or brushing provides.
Excessive flaking may be caused by an underlying illness or condition, such as psoriasis, a fungal infection (Malassezia), seborrheic dermatitis, or even head lice.
Some people react to some hair care products with a red, itchy, scaling scalp.
Some experts say that people who do not consume enough foods that contain zinc, B vitamins, and some types of fats are more prone to dandruff.
Cradle Cap – dandruff in babies
Cradle Cap may appear when the baby is between 2 weeks and 6 months of age, especially between the ages of 3 to 8 weeks – this usually disappears after a few weeks; in some cases it may take months. Although cradle cap may be alarming to parents, it is not dangerous.
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR DANDRUFF
· Apple cider vinegar: The acidity of apple cider vinegar changes the pH of your scalp, making it harder for yeast to grow. This helps in reducing dandruff.
· Neem Leaves: Neem leaves (also an Indian herb) make a great all-natural home remedy for your dandruff. Their properties not only relieve itching, they act as an antifungal as well, inhibiting the over-growth of dandruff causing fungus.
· Baking soda: Wet your hair and then rub a handful of baking soda vigorously into your scalp. Don’t use shampoo. Baking soda reduces fungi that can cause dandruff.
· Listerine: Listerine fights fungus
· Fenugreek Paste: Soak the seeds in 1-2 cups of water overnight. The next morning, grind them into a fine paste and apply to your scalp. Leave it applied for 30-45 minutes, then wash with mild shampoo or water.
· Coconut oil: Massage 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil into your scalp and leave it for a while. Wash off the oil with a mild shampoo.
· Lemon: Massage 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it after shampooing. Let the lemon water be the last rinse. Lemon’s acidity helps balance the pH of your scalp, which helps keeps dandruff at bay.
· Garlic: Garlic’s anti-fungal properties are perfect for eliminating dandruff-causing bacteria. Massage your scalp with crushed garlic and honey before washing.
· Tea Tree Oil: Pour 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil into 1 cup of warm water in a squirt bottle. Shake well. After shampooing, spray the mixture all over your scalp, massage, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Pat the excess moisture out, but don’t wash it out.
· Aloe Vera Gel: Apply Aloe Vera gel to the scalp 15 minutes prior to washing your hair. After 15 minutes, shampoo and wash it as normal.
If your child’s body feels warm, they may have what doctors call a "fever". Doctors measure how much "fever" is present with a thermometer. If a thermometer says 100.4º F (38º C), this
means that a child has a "fever" and their body is warmer than it normally should be. It means that a child has an illness most of the time. Sometimes children get "fever" after vaccination
shots. Sometimes their body feels hot because they are playing hard or wearing too many clothes but they are not sick.
"Fever" by itself is not harmful. "Fever" may actually help the body fight infection. However, "fevers" also make most children uncomfortable, and so we often treat "fevers" with a drug
called Acetaminophen. Tylenol® is a common name for acetaminophen.
How your child is acting is more important than the level of the fever. If the child has a "fever" of 103º F, but is happy, playful and eating, the child is probably fine. If your child has a fever of
only 101º F, but is having trouble breathing or is very sleepy or fussy, he or she may be very sick.
Please call your Doctor immediately for any of the following:
• Stiff neck, headache, or confusion
• Chills or rigors
• Excessive sleepiness
• Excessive crying or fussiness
• Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
• Purple rash
• Your child is less than 3 months old and has a temperature greater than 100.4º F, (38º C)
• Your child’s fever lasts for more than 3 days
• Your child is in pain (even after taking Tylenol®)
• Your child seems sicker, or you are concerned
Source: Enthnomed
Ayurveda believes that all ailments stems from what you ingest. So learn your system
It is interesting to note that developed world has more than twice the cases per capita than developing world.
Makes you wonder if the environment, food, additives, pollution, lifestyle is responsible for the marked increase.
We frequently use EUCALYPTUS FOR COLD AND SINUSITIS in our household.
If interested, talk to me next time we meet.
What makes Alcohol legal and Pot illegal?
WHO released a report that shows that Alcohol kills 3.3 million people a year.
Alcohol not only lead to violence and injuries, it also increases the risk of more than 200 diseases, including liver cirrhosis and several types of cancers.
Approximately 25 per cent of deaths among those aged age group 20 to 39 can be attributed to alcohol.
Worldwide about 16 per cent of drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking – often referred to as ‘binge-drinking’.
Ask a mother that has lost a child due to alcohol related health issue or due to drunk driving.
And yet we accept alcohol as natural and unquestionable.
Really?
See WHO’s chart on consumption.
WHAT CAN WE DO COLLECTIVELY?
· Make alcohol illegal for young people.
· enact very strict laws against drinking and driving
· reduce demand through taxation and pricing
· raise awareness of public health problems caused by harmful use of alcohol
· provide affordable treatment for people with alcohol-use disorders
Between 2007 and 2012, the number of adults with ADHD prescriptions TRIPLED. 55% of students who are in fraternities misuse ADHD drugs. Many people who use these stimulants without a prescription don’t think they are taking a drug.
And so has ADHD drug-related ER visits. It has tripled in recent years.
Every major ADHD drug has been cited by the FDA for false and misleading advertising. Many are known to significantly impact your Creative abilities. The perceived cognitive benefits of these drugs are caused by Placebo effects. ADHD drug + Drinking may increase the risk of heart problems for people taking these meds. The scariest of the listed side effects for ADHD drugs is the risk of sudden death. In rare cases, stimulant abuse has led to mental illness and psychosis.
Now the kicker: ADHD Drugs release a rush of dopamine in the brain, giving many people a sense of euphoria. They are additive. Doctors and Pharmas are both at fault for ignoring FDA warnings about prescription stimulants and pushing more ADHD drugs to kids.
Fight unnecessary medication of children.
Source: NY Times, BusinessInsider.com
A new government survey has found that 1 in every 13 child is taking at least one medication for emotional or behavioral problems.
Of these, 81 % of the children on medication had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at some point.
Now sit back and think for a minute…….
Aren’t children meant to be full of energy and unfocussed?
Do we want them growing up like robots that follow instructions precisely?
Isn’t the act of growing up fundamentally an act of developing patience, focus, and self-confidence?
If so, why do we rush to put them on psychotropic drugs?
Note that only 55 % of parents reported that these psychiatric medications are helping their children.
Does this sound right to dose young growing mind with drugs that impact their hormone level and brain functions?
Have we truly exhausted all non-chemical options before we medicate our kids?
Before you open the next Ritalin bottle, just think for a minute.
Polio can be avoided with a vaccine:
The World Health Organization say there’s been an outbreak of the potentially deadly disease polio in Syria. They confirmed ten cases of Polio have been identified in young children, the first time in 14 years that the disease has been found there.
Encephalitis, or swelling of the brain has a vaccine too
Health officials in northern India are battling to confront a new outbreak of encephalitis, a disease that has this year killed at least 350 children in one state alone.
WHOOPING COUGH is another disease that has a vaccine prevention
Last year, the United States had the highest number of whooping cough cases since 1955, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During 2012, the CDC received reports of 48,000 cases and 18 deaths, with most of the deaths occurring in infants. Researchers compared areas with significant numbers of parents who chose not to vaccinate their children for nonmedical reasons to areas that were affected by the 2010 whooping cough outbreak in California. They found that people living in areas with high nonmedical vaccine exemption rates were 2.5 times more likely to also be located in an area with high levels of whooping cough.
How about the outbreak of Measles in Fort Worth
The outbreak in Texas is the perfect example of how contagious measles is. The recent situation is strikingly similar to a 2005 case in Indiana, Offit said, in which a teen went to a church picnic with 500 people after visiting an orphanage in Romania. Of the 465 people at the picnic who had been vaccinated or previously infected, three people got sick. Of the 35 who had not been vaccinated, 31 got measles.
Would you rather have HiB?
Before the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae type B existed, its meningitis killed 600 children a year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And many who survived suffered from brain damage, seizures or deafness.
The good news is that these types of outbreaks are rare and, in some cases, preventable. For example, make sure your family is up-to-date on their vaccinations and remember to read up on the latest flu season information every year so that you are immunized against the latest flu strains.
Cigarette has fire at one end and a fool at the other. Whenever you light a cigarette you actually are putting your health, your life expectancy and your money on fire. Cigarette industries earn about $400 billion a year as cigarette is the most traded item in the world. It is a sad truth that initially people start smoking to look cool, stylish and sexy and gradually they become dependent on smoking both physically and psychologically because nicotine is a highly addictive substance.
Something you perhaps didn’t know about Cigarettes, Cigars or Other Tobacco products.
· The American cigarette manufacturers sell less cigarettes to Americans as compared to the number that they sell to non-Americans.
· 70 % of the cigarette market is owned by major brands like Marlboro, Camel, Kent and kool.
· Out of total cigarettes sold all over the world, 25 % are smuggled.
· Legally tobacco cannot be sold to people younger than 18 years in most of countries except Japan where legal age for the purpose is 20 years.
· Within 10 seconds of inhalation of cigarette smoke, nicotine reaches every part of body including brain.
· Cigs are now added with flavors with toppings of substances like, clove, licorice, orange oil, apricot stone, lime oil, lavender oil, cocoa and many others.
· Sometimes, Urea, which is excreted in urine is used to flavor the cigarettes.
· There is a myth that smoking helps in digestion. In fact smoking slows digestion by diverting the blood towards other organs, away from intestine where it is required for digestion.
It has been proven by research that smokers’ life expectancy is reduced by 14 years.
Following is a short account of the most horrible diseases caused by smoking.
1. Respiratory disease: Smoking over a longer period of time can lead to development of breathing problems, commonly known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During first phase of the disease patient develops chronic bronchitis, which means longstanding inflammation of airways, followed by bronchiectesis, which means destruction of airways, and eventually emphysema, which means destruction of alveoli (small balloons where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange takes place). Hence one shouldn’t smoke in the first place and if you have already started smoking quit it as soon as possible.
2. Gum Disease: Smoking can inflict serious damage and disease to oral mucosa and gums because it leads to deposition of toxins over gums and mucosa causing their staining.
3. Blindness: Recent research has revealed that smoking also contributes towards blindness by atrophy of muscles leading to degeneration of macula and by reducing blood supply leading to degeneration of retina.
4. Diabetes Mellitus: Not only the risk of developing diabetes is increased manifold by smoking but also that of developing secondary complications of diabetes like heart disease, vascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease and foot problems.
5. High BP: Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels resulting in increased blood pressure, which leads to increased risk of heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke.
6. Peripheral Vascular Disease: Smoking causes atherosclerosis, which means deposition of fat on the inner side of the walls of the blood vessels and stiffening of these walls resulting in loss of their elasticity. These changes not only result in rise in blood pressure but also reduction in blood flow through the blood vessels. This impairment in blood flow can lead to tissue ischemia, which means death of tissues due to lack of blood supply, especially in legs. This ischemia can eventually lead to amputation of lower limbs, hence it is said that either you can have your cigarettes or your legs.
7. Stroke – Smoking causes vascular disease resulting in reduced blood supply to brain and weakness of walls of blood vessels. Hence stroke can result either from obstruction in blood supply to brain or from rupture of weak blood vessel wall resulting in bleeding into brain.
8. CANCER – Most common cancer caused by smoking is lung cancer. Other types of cancer that are caused by smoking include blood cancer, mouth, tongue, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreas and cervix.
9. HEART DISEASE – Smoking causes atherosclerosis of the blood vessels, which means deposition of fat on the inner side of blood vessels and hardening of walls of blood vessels resulting in loss of their elasticity. Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart itself) results in reduced blood supply to heart hence reduced work capacity of the heart while atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries results in increased resistance to blood flow and consequently putting increased work load over the heart. This imbalance in work load over the heart and blood supply to the heart results in extra stress and strain over the heart causing angina and myocardial infarction.
TALK to your child about the dangers of smoking.
Improving your lifestyle is equally important in treatment of type 2 diabetes. Some lifestyle changes which reduces risk of diabetes
· Avoid smoking
· Do exercise regularly
· Do not skip meals
· Prefer whole food instead of refined food
· Enjoy adequate sleep
· Avoid sugary drinks
· Spread meals throughout the day
· Manage body weight
· Do yoga – here is list of some good yoga for diabetes
For Adults
· Avoid alcohol
· Learn and practice meditation for emotional and mental balance
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) claims that 223,000 lung cancer worldwide is from air pollution. And there os also convincing evidence that air pollution increases the risk of bladder cancer. IARC reviewed thousands of studies on air pollution tracking populations over decades and classified air pollution and "particulate matter" as Group 1 human carcinogens. That ranks them alongside more than 100 other known cancer-causing substances in IARC’s Group 1, including asbestos, plutonium, silica dust, ultraviolet radiation and tobacco smoke.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. These commonly found air pollutants (also known as "criteria pollutants") are found all over the United States. They are particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threats.
LEARN ABOUT AQI
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you about the unhealthiness of your air.
AQI of 100 or below is decent. Anything above is dangerous. AQI of 200+ is infrequent. It also changes per the seasons.
You can find about AQI value for your city at www.airnow.gov
WHO IS AFFECTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY
· People with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, can be particularly sensitive to ozone.
· Children are at higher risk from ozone exposure because they often play outdoors in warmer weather when ozone levels are higher, they are more likely to have asthma (which may be aggravated by ozone exposure), and their lungs are still developing.
· Pregnant women.
· And Elderly adults
WHAT DOES POOR AQI DO?
· Irritate the respiratory system
· Reduce lung function
· Cause lung tumors
· Aggravate Asthma
· Make lungs susceptible to lung infection
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT?
OTHER RESOURCES:
Source: EPA, Reuters and Others
Need more reasons to believe in vaccines?
Rotavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis in babies, which can result in severe dehydration and admission to hospital.
Vaccinating babies against a virus that can cause diarrhea and vomiting also seems to protect some adults, a U.S. study suggests.
In Tuesday’s online issue of JAMA, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said they found fewer adults were getting severe cases of gastroenteritis after rotavirus vaccination became standard for infants.
Source: CBC and JAMA
A North Texas church that is part of a large international ministry told its congregation that health officials had confirmed one case of measles there and suspected several more.
The number of measles cases in the Tarrant county grew to 10 Monday, with the health department saying all cases are connected to one person who traveled to a country where measles is common.
What is measles?
Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) infection that causes a rash all over your body.
Measles is caused by a virus. It is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or shares food or drinks. The measles virus can travel through the air. This means that you can get measles if you are near someone who has the virus even if that person doesn’t cough or sneeze directly on you.
You can spread the virus to others from 4 days before the rash starts until 4 days after the rash appeared. The virus is most often spread when people first get sick, before they know they have it.
The first symptoms of measles are like a bad cold-a high fever, a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and a hacking cough. The lymph nodes in your neck may swell. You also may feel very tired and have diarrhea and red, sore eyes. As these symptoms start to go away, you will get red spots inside your mouth, followed by a rash all over your body.
Measles usually gets better with home care. Take medicines to lower your fever. Also, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Stay away from other people as much as you can so that you don’t spread the disease. If your child has measles, keep him or her out of school until at least 4 days after the rash first appeared. Keep your child out longer if he or she is not feeling well. Your doctor may suggest vitamin A supplements if your child has measles.
Most people get better within 2 weeks. But measles can sometimes cause dangerous problems, such as lung infection (pneumonia) or brain swelling(encephalitis). In rare cases, it can even cause seizures or meningitis.
Source: Web MD, CBS News
MYTHS
Myth: Swimming less than an hour after eating is dangerous.
One study that examined all drownings in the United States found that fewer than one percent of all drownings occur within an hour after the person ate a meal. Much more dangerous, however, is swimming after consuming an alcoholic beverage. According to the CDC, alcohol use and intoxication is associated with up to half of all adolescent and adult deaths that occur while swimming recreationally.
Myth: Sunburns will “fade to a tan.
Sunburns and suntans are completely different. A sunburn means that the tissue in the skin has been overexposed to UV light, causing burning and inflammation. A suntan, on the other hand, is a result of moderate UV exposure, which causes skin cells called melanocytes to release a pigment called melanin. Melanin is a darker pigment that absorbs UV light, protecting the skin from UV damage.
Myth: People with darker skin do not need to use sunscreen.
People with naturally darker skin have more melanin in their skin, so their skin is more prone to absorb damaging UV rays, protecting them from sunburns. However, it is still possible for darker-skinned people to get sunburned when overexposed to the sun.
Myth: Salty sea water is good for cleaning cuts and other wounds.
home-made salt water is good for disinfecting cuts, sea water contains many germs and impurities that can actually cause harm if they enter the body through an open wound or sore. Tropical waters can also host some harsh bacteria, because warmer water encourages bacteria to grow.
Myth: Any type of cooking has the same effect/benefit
Steaming is one of the best ways to capitalize on a vegetable’s taste, color, and most importantly, its nutrients. Vegetables lose nutrients in the water they are cooked in. Healthful (and flavor-conscious!) chefs often save the water (in which vegetables is boiled) to make savory soups and other palatable recipes that require vegetable stock to regain some of the nutrients lost.
Myth: Small doses of adult medicines are safe for children.
Beware: Babies and kids are NOT small adults. Their body metabolizes drugs differently.
Myth: Teething can cause fevers in babies
Fever in a teething baby shouldn’t be written off and medical attention should be sought
Myth: Certain videos can help babies learn sooner
AAP says that the educational merit of media for children younger than 2 years remains unproven
Myth: Walkers are a safe way to help babies walk earlier
Remember, a baby in a walker can quickly and unexpectedly approach a staircase
Myth: Crib bumpers are a safe way to protect babies’ heads while they sleep
Risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) from crib bumpers is high enough that the AAP recommends all soft bedding, including bumpers, be removed from an infant’s crib.
Myth: Use breast milk to treat an ear infection
Breast milk does have some antibodies in it. But it also has lots of sugars in it that bacteria love to grow on.
Myth: Babies need water when it’s hot
Not true. Babies, like children and adults, need to stay hydrated. Use Electrolytes.
For more such tips, check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/naturalpediatrics
